A method and system for synchronization of data stores is described. A synchronization initiator sends a sync key to a synchronization partner requesting to synchronize to some checkpoint. An integer is used as the sync key. When the sent sync key is zero the synchronization partner performs an initial synchronization. When the sent sync key is a value other than zero, the synchronization partner attempts to synchronize to the desired state. The value of the sync key is incremented only upon successful synchronization. A sync server can also include a sync key with change update notifications sent to a sync client, which the client can use to determine if the update notification is a valid update from the current sync state or is a delayed and obsolete update that should be discarded.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for synchronization, the instructions comprising: receiving a first sync key on a synchronization server; determining a first desired synchronization state from the first sync key to obtain synchronization data; sending the synchronization data to a client; storing the first sync key; receiving a second sync key on the synchronization server; comparing the stored first sync key to the second sync key to determine a second desired synchronization state; obtaining synchronization data for the second desired synchronization state; and sending the synchronization data to the client.
2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising updating the first sync key when the synchronization is successful.
3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising updating at least one member of a group comprising: the first sync key and the second sync key.
4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein setting the desired synchronization based on the comparison includes at least one member of a group: setting the desired synchronization state to an initial synchronization and setting the desired synchronization state to a stored synchronization state.
5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising incrementing a value of the first sync key when the synchronization is successful.
6. A computer synchronization system, the system comprising: a first sync key means, wherein the first sync key means is configured to indicate a syncronization state; a client means, wherein the client means is configured to transmit the first sync key means; and a synchronization server means, wherein the synchronization server means is configured to receive the first sync key means from the client means, determine a desired synchronization state of the client means from the first sync key means by comparing the first sync key means to a second sync key means stored on the synchronization server means, and set the desired synchronization state on the synchronization server means based on the comparison.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization server means is further configured to set the desired synchronization state based on a determined value of the first sync key means.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the partner synchronization server means is further configured to determine when the sync key means is valid.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization server means is further configured to determine when the desired synchronization state is an initial synchronization state based on the first sync key means.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization server means is further configured to determine when the desired synchronization state is another valid synchronization state based on a value of the first sync key means.
11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the client means is further configured to determine when a synchronization is successful and update the first sync key means on the client means.
12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization server means is further configured to determine when a synchronization is successful and update the first sync key means on the synchronization server means.
13. The system of claim 6 , wherein the synchronization server means is further configured to determine when the desired synchronization state is another valid synchronization state based on the first sync key means and determine when the first sync key means corresponds to a stored synchronization checkpoint.
14. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first sync key means includes an integer.
15. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon for synchronizing computing devices, comprising: receiving a first sync key on a synchronization server; determining a first desired synchronization state from the first sync key to obtain synchronization data; sending the synchronization data to a client; storing the first sync key; receiving a second sync key on the synchronization server; comparing the stored first sync key to the second sync key to determine a second desired synchronization state; obtaining synchronization data for the second desired synchronization state; and sending the synchronization data to the client.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first sync key is further configured to update when the client is successfully updated.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein an integer associated with the first sync key is incremented when the client is successfully updated.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first sync key includes at least one of: a bit, a float, a character and an integer.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 16, 2005
June 5, 2007
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